Wow, what a whirlwind of a year it was.
2025 was hectic from start to finish for Lisa and I. We both feel like we worked harder than ever, yet from a business point of view bookings were slightly down, and our profits took a big hit as our operating costs skyrocketed with inflation across the globe. Every aspect of running our workshops became more expensive, from travel and accommodation to rental vehicles and insurance. I am not one to dwell on the negatives, though; each year is an opportunity to learn more about running a successful business, and I never take for granted the incredible life we live, chasing dreams and immersing ourselves in truly magical scenes. As I always say to Lisa, our business is “swings and roundabouts” – sometimes things swing your way and sometimes not so much, but it is all part of the bigger picture.
A stunning lake overlooking the Slovenian Alps
Looking ahead, 2026 is already shaping up to be a much stronger year, with many workshops close to fully booked and even waitlists for some dates. We also have two new workshops on the calendar – the Lake Tyrrell Mallee Salt Lakes Workshop and The Ultimate New Zealand Workshop, and we are really excited about those.
A magical sunrise during our workshop at Lake Bled - Slovenia
Reflecting on 2025, it is no wonder it felt so full-on. We started at home with our Summer Editing School in early February, followed by our Winter Workshop in Slovenia in late February. In March, we were back home for the South Coast Seascapes, then over to New Zealand in April for two autumn workshops. In May, we ran our Snowy Mountains Workshop, then returned to New Zealand in June and July for two winter workshops. August took us to Tasmania for our Tassie Workshop, followed by a private workshop later that month in the Snowy Mountains and along the Australian coast. In September, we were back in New Zealand again for our Milford Sound and Wanaka Workshop, then off to Iceland in October for our 9-day workshop adventure. We returned to Australia in early November for a NiSi ND Filters Workshop, and wrapped up the year with our fourth trip to New Zealand in 2025 for the always-popular Lakes & Lupins Workshop. Add in various one-day workshops and a stack of other bits and pieces, and it truly was a non-stop year. It is fair to say we are really enjoying being home for the summer, sleeping in our own bed, spending time with family, and sneaking in some beach time and fishing.
An abstract aerial view of one of the Mallee Salt Lakes
On a personal photography level, 2025 was a year I really enjoyed. I took the pressure off myself to “produce” and just photographed when it felt right, trusting my instincts. I loved exploring new locations such as the Mallee salt lakes in Lisa’s home region, and I thoroughly enjoyed doing more aerial photography with my drone, something I am excited to keep pursuing in 2026. There are several images from 2025 that I am genuinely proud of. Late in the year, after receiving an invitation to enter a photography competition, I decided to have a go at an international contest and submitted three of my favourite images to the New York Photography Awards. I pretty much forgot about it, so it was a wonderful surprise just before Christmas to learn that I had in fact received 11 gold and 13 silver medals across various international professional level categories. Those who know me well will know I am not a competitive or egotistical photographer and have never really entered competitions before. The main reason I did it was to have that little feather in my cap that might help us reach a new audience of clients who value award-winning photographers. Who knows, I might even try it again one day.
My award-winning images below -
For me, every good photograph is more than just an image – a good photograph is always about the story behind it.
These are some of my photography highlights from the year, more so the best memories, not so much my “favourite photos”, in no particular order, were:
1./ Lisa and I hiking into a remote canyon in New Zealand and witnessing – and photographing – a truly stunning waterfall.
2./ Visiting and photographing the Icelandic highlands, easily one of the most extraordinary landscapes I have ever seen, and coming away with some images I absolutely love.
3./ Returning to Slovenia. Even though I became very unwell on that trip, I still captured some images I am really pleased with, and we both absolutely love that country.
4./ Hiking with Lisa to a remote waterfall in Tasmania. It took some finding, but it turned out to be one of the most photogenic waterfalls I have ever seen.
5./ Taking our workshop group on a helicopter flight to photograph sunrise from a mountaintop near Wanaka in New Zealand – breathtaking views and an unforgettable experience for everyone.
6./ Last but not least, visiting and photographing Lake Tyrrell and some “secret” Mallee salt lakes that Lisa knew about. This place really took me by surprise; I fell in love with it and captured some of my best-ever images there.
That is it from me for now. I just wanted to sincerely thank everyone who joined us on a workshop this year. We are incredibly fortunate to have so many wonderful clients, some of whom I am proud to now call friends, and we genuinely value your company and camaraderie. Wishing you all the very best for 2026, and may all your photography dreams come true.
Best, Brett and Lisa.